Leader: Dignity in Foreign Ministry means denial of diplomacy of submission

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has stressed the need for Iranian officials to pursue negotiations with international sides from a position of dignity, noting that leniency in foreign policy does not conflict with fundamentals and principles.

“Dignity in foreign policy means negation of the diplomacy of surrender,” Ayatollah Khamenei said in Tehran on Saturday as he addressed a group of Iranian Foreign Ministry officials and ambassadors to other countries.

The Leader underlined that Iranian diplomats and envoys should never pin their hopes on a specific political figure, and get carried away by others’ comments and actions.

“Dignity means we should not put absolute trust in others but rather rely on our own principles,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.

The Leader added that wisdom translates into taking landmark decisions within the course of international interactions.

“Wisdom means acting prudently, sensibly and considerately in all bilateral and multilateral interactions, and steering clear of derogatory, scathing and disparaging comments. Wisdom means every move is anchored in reasonableness, and carefully thought out and calculated,” the Leader of the Islamic Revolution highlighted.

Ayatollah Khamenei went on to note that expediency in foreign policy means knowing how to stay flexible, as flexibility does not conflict with fundamentals and principles.

He also called on Iranian ambassadors to employ “good, timely and well thought out” personal initiatives during interactions with foreign authorities.

The Leader described the Iranian envoys as a representative of the nation’s identity and character, saying, “Iranian diplomats should be a symbol of faith, love for dear Iran, zeal and determination. They should be dynamic and vigorous, and their remarks and action should garner respect for Iranian people.”

Ayatollah Khamenei also lauded the neighbor-oriented foreign policy of the incumbent Iranian administration, saying that foreign plots are underway to damage relations between Iran and its neighbors, urging Iranian Foreign Ministry officials not to let such malicious bids materialize.

He said Iran’s foreign policy is focused on strengthening ties with Muslim states and allies, emphasizing that attention must be paid to the promotion of relations with major and important countries that are on the same wavelength with Iran as to global developments and the basic principles of international politics.

Ayatollah Khamenei also said the world is moving into a new order, which would be full of ups and downs and affected by possible unforeseen events.

The Leader called on Iranian ambassadors and envoys to carefully monitor and evaluate global developments, and identify the circumstances surrounding their occurrence in order to properly place Iran in the new world order.

SS/MG